New Brunswick's chief electoral officer says recounts show no need for audit

CP

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's chief electoral officer says he doesn't think an audit of ballots cast in last month's provincial election is required now that seven recounts have validated the accuracy of the vote results.

Michael Quinn had initially suggested an audit of random polls after there was a two-hour delay in the posting of results on election night two weeks ago. The delays were caused by a software glitch that sent wrong voting results to the media.

Quinn said an all-party committee of the legislature, which will be chosen this fall, would have to make a final decision on whether an audit is required. But he doesn't think it's needed because of the recounts that covered 51,000 votes.

"This represented a recount of 15 per cent of the electoral districts in the province and the result of that mirrors almost exactly the results that Elections New Brunswick posted on the website at the end of election night," he said Monday.

"This recount process was so widespread and intense, it's like anything better than the advisory committee would have done."

The Liberals won the election with 27 seats, while the Progressive Conservatives got 21. Green party Leader David Coon was also elected.